Court Rejects Bail for Durgapur Gang Rape Accused and Orders Fast Track Trial in Medical College Assault Case

Bail Pleas Of 2 Durgapur Gang Rape Accused Rejected, Fast Track Trial Ordered

Durgapur:

A sub-divisional court on Friday rejected the bail applications of two of the six accused involved in the alleged gang rape case of a second year medical college student in West Bengal's Durgapur, and committed the case for a fast track trial.

According to defense counsel Advocate Puja Kurmi, who represents the accused, the chargesheet has been submitted and received by the court. She indicated that the accused have been brought to court following this submission, and the defense team is currently verifying the completeness and legal validity of all provided documents.

Kurmi elaborated that bail petitions were filed for two accused individuals - Sheikh Riazuddin and Sheikh Shafique - against whom no charges of rape or gang rape have been filed. "They have been charged under other sections, including one related to dacoity," she explained. Despite this distinction, the court denied their bail applications after hearing the state's arguments.

Public Prosecutor Bibhas Chattopadhyay stated that the prosecution requested the court to commit the case to a fast track trial. "We urged the court for immediate trial proceedings. The court accepted our request and allowed our prayer, transferring the case to the Additional District and Sessions Court. The trial process will begin from tomorrow," he confirmed.

After considering all perspectives, the magistrate rejected the bail plea and remanded all six accused to judicial custody for an additional day. The court instructed that the case be presented before the Additional District and Sessions Court for further proceedings at 10:30 am on Saturday.

The six accused in the private medical college sexual assault case were again produced before the Durgapur Sub-Divisional Court on Friday after completing four days of judicial custody.

Twenty days following the incident, on Thursday, the New Township Police station of Durgapur submitted a comprehensive chargesheet to the court, naming all six accused and detailing specific charges under multiple sections. Police sources indicate that the chargesheet includes offenses related to sexual assault, criminal conspiracy, and destruction of evidence, based on statements, medical reports, and forensic evidence collected during the investigation.

The accused were brought to court under strict security measures for Friday's hearing.